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Were any Volkswagen executives arrested or charged because of the scandal?

OpenAI's Answer

Yes, several Volkswagen executives were arrested or charged in connection with the emissions scandal, commonly referred to as "Dieselgate." The scandal erupted in 2015 when it was revealed that Volkswagen had installed software in diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests.

Key figures involved include:

  1. Martin Winterkorn - The former CEO of Volkswagen resigned shortly after the scandal broke. He was charged with fraud and conspiracy in the United States and faced legal actions in Germany as well.

  2. Oliver Schmidt - A former Volkswagen executive who was in charge of the company's environmental and engineering office in the U.S. He was arrested in January 2017 and later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

  3. Other Executives - Several other executives were implicated, and some faced charges in Germany. For instance, former head of diesel development, Wolfgang Hatz, was arrested in 2018 as part of the ongoing investigations.

The scandal led to significant legal repercussions for the company and its executives, including hefty fines and a loss of consumer trust. The fallout from Dieselgate continues to affect Volkswagen's operations and reputation.

For more detailed information, you can refer to sources like Reuters or The Guardian.

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